Just got V1JP!!! How do I remove Norton properly and partition the HDD?

Just got my new V1JP with Windows XP. Very nice notebook! She's a beauty!

1) How do I get rid of Norton properly so it wont still mess things up (will install NOD32 instead)?

2) How do I repartition the hdd (what would be a good size for each: currently 44/60 or something I want 80/20).

3) Is there any way to do this without wiping the whole thing out and reinstalling everything?

If I do have to wipe it all out is there a guide to hlep me with this?

Going to pick up a wireless router right now....

 

1. Go to uninstall in the control panel and you'll get rid of it correctly.

2. Get partition magic or something... You want C: large enough for your OS, all programs, and enough room to cache.... Better choice is to consider how much to "need" for pictures, documents, music, etc... then make the D: drive 50-75% larger than you need.. if you can.

3. partition magic could do it.. but honestly, it's not really a big process either way.

 

I just got mine today as well with Vista..

I want to verify that if we make ANY changes it messes up the recovery partition? Even if you don't mess with the recovery partition?

If thats the case its history..

I haven't even looked at partition info yet.
I do believe I will be getting rid of Norton though as it drives me crazy on my desktop too!!

For me I would like to see 60/60 split or maybe 60/30/30.. I will think about it.

I like sharing Hard drives with other computers within my home network.

 

why don't you just start from scratch - use your Vista DVD to format and repartition and don't install norton (what a POS software sorry but I hate norton)
also proportable: sometimes uninstalling norton has drastic effects. just google norton uninstaller and it should come up with a few hits. for some versions, u actually need to dl a separate uninstaller. just stupid.

 

Cool, thanks for the heads up! I'm going to figure out what to do tomorrow... I really don't want to reformat everything because I'm worried of what I might screw up or loose... I've heard of ppl formating and havg big problems. Wish there was a guide. I would lke to remove Norton though as i hear al over it's a nightmare and get poor rating for its effectivenes.

SSHORKEY let's keep each other updated, we have different OS' but it would be nice to follow along with a newbiw owner as well. I really don't know anything about this stuff and need help!!!!

 

Here you go, this is a GUIDE EBE wrote it explains everything in detail.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=81828

You will want Partition Magic to deal with your partition sizes, and you will need to think about how you want to organize your hard drive.

You should also not be afraid of formating, you will not loose anythnig if you back up everything. So spend one night backing things up, maybe to go sleep, wake up and refresh your mind and try to remember anything else you may need to back up, then format and start fresh.

Go to Add and remove programs, and remove Norton, it is a resource hog.

I personaly have 20GB for C Drive, Windows mainly, D drive for applications around 30 GB, and F drive for storage 60GB, movies, music, games and anything else.

 

Ok.. we keep each other updated.
I will disappear this weekend but will be back.

Thanks for the tips Milestone.
Those are pretty close to what I was thinking except I usually feel just a wee bit more comfortable with a bit more space on C:. Even if it is wasted

I am very familiar with blowing out XP systems.. and using the supplied format / partition with windows.

It's Vista I'm not completely comfortable with yet and I have always veered away from manufacturers that supply Recovery discs ever since I worked for Gateway years ago and that's all they did..

I just feel Recovery discs are a cheap way out.
I understand the different ways they are coming from but still.

 

Oh yah, of course more space for Vista, you will need close to 30GB for C drive because of Vista, for me using XP Pro, I only need 20GB since roughly 15GB sits there as a safety, just incase it gets full over a long period of time.

I understand how you don't like Recovery Discs, this is just how all brands do it, some even require you to burn them when you first start your laptop.

With EBE's Guide these recovery discs are Almost like having a Copy of a real OS, except for the fact with a Windows XP Pro CD you can set NTFS clusters to 4k, but with the Recover Discs it sets to 512k, and then you will have to do an extra procedure to change that cluster size.

 

All set up for wireless internet now! Wow the Linksys WRT54GS was super easy to setup... I like super easy! I'm running at a hair under 100Mbps on my V1. Sweet. I think I'm going to just ry and remove Norton from the add remove programs list, but I will do some homework first and make sure I have another virus program at the ready first. NOD 32 or Kapersky? My bud is using NOD 32 and he says it is very light on system load and works very well. What do you guys think?

The V1 cost me a large sum of money, but so far.... it's really, really nice. Glad I picked this baby up! Now to get some money for food.......

 

I'm going to be ordering a V1 very soon so I'm reading this thread with a great deal of interest and have one question...how necessary is it to repartition the HDD?

I will also be ditching Norton and installing AVG (free edition) as my anti-virus. So, RacingNorth, I can recommend it to you. Never had an issue with it in the few years I've been using it (combined with Zone Alarm)...

Rc

 

Doesn't Vista come with the ability to re-size partitions ala Partition Magic? (I know the original question was regarding XP, but the newer V1JPs are shipping with Vista).

Also, is there any big disadvantage in just using one large C: partition. I hate the idea of saving free disk space on multiple partitions. It just leads to wasted space when the amount of data vs programs I have will vary based on what I have installed at any one time.

 

Andybech there's no technical drawback, most people partition their data more for usability. The two common scenarios that come to my mind are users who

a) want to organize their data in a certain way, i.e. music, mp3s on one disc, documents on another, maybe programs on another

b) more technically oriented people who want the ability to blow out their OS regularly w/o any data loss or if they're really good about registry backups and what not, w/o having to reinstall any software after they rebuild the OS.

I personally have my HD partitioned at 30GB and 70GB on a 100GB 7200 RPM drive. My OS and software are on my 30GB partition and all my data, my music, my documents are on the other partition. I also keep a folder on the 70GB partition w/ every single driver, software installer, and other key little utilities. When I blow out the OS, it usually takes me 20-30 minutes to reinstall the OS and then maybe another 20-30 minutes to install my software. Given a little under an hour I can be pretty much fully up and running again on a fresh install of my operating system.

(I'm a software developer who often has to as part of testing put my machine into very atypical and unusual situations--the need to rebuild regularly is mostly a result of my occupation.)

 

Bakasan - I have no desire to do 'a)' or 'b)' in your post so do you think someone like me (a surfer, gamer, user of Word and Excel, and Itunes) needs to worry about repartitioning my HD? I back up my word files, photos, emails and itune library to an external HD frequently so I'm guessing I might not need to do a repartition... But how would my 'usability' be affected?

It would be good to hear your thoughts - someone far more versed in this area than I am...Thanks.

Rc

 

If you're not too well versed in how to and have no pressing absolute need to repartition, then there's in my book no real compelling reason to do so. It is however a good learning experience and it really isn't anywhere near as scary as it seems once you get a feel for the process, but it's one of those things where if ain't broke, don't fix it.

Some people hate how Asus ships their machines (i.e. split partitions, FAT32 partitions, etc), but if you're happy with what you have (except for possibly uninstalling Norton AV), then you're probably not missing much if anything by leaving well enough alone. There are minor space efficiencies to be had along w/ other technical plusses, but if you're mainly just doing some light office work, some surfing, emailing, keep your music externally, then to me, you don't have a compelling reason in my opinion.

HTH

 

Thanks - I'll keep you (and this thread) posted... Aiming to order V1JP tomorrow.

Rc

 

I just bought a 320 Gb external hard drive. I think I'll just use XP Pro the way it is. I'll uninstall Norton, but check to see if I have to do anything special to do that first; then perhaps I'll repartition my drive as the C: is 60Gb!?!? and my D: drive is like 40Gb (what a stupid setup ASUS). From what I've read 20Gb would be plenty for C: and the rest for D:!

 

RacingNorth - do post once you have uninstalled Norton to say if you did have to do anything other than Add/Remove Programs. It would be useful for all V1 owners, I'd bet. And I am also going with XP Pro SP2 as my OS rather than Vista. If it ain't broke...

Rc

PS - I think I'll leave the HD as it comes and just use a small external HD for backing up stuff...

 

Will,do! But I haven't got up the nerve yet. To properly remove I have to edit the registry and I am a complete newb at that kind of stuff!

PS - I also have an external drive (320 Gb) so lots of room for my music and stuff....

 

Nop, nothing special to do. Just go to add remove programs and remove Norton Internet Security and Norton Update Tool. I was able to uninstall mine completely just now. Better to turn off Norton first before uninstalling and reboot when prompted. I'm now running on AVG freeware and Windows Defender for the Spyware. This improved the boot time of my V1JP. Hope this helps

 

Norton is gone! Bye bye to that trash! Sooo annoying...

I followed what engr19698 did in the post above. Shut down averyhting I could to do with Norton, then restarted. Then add/remove Norton, restarted. Then removed symantec update, restart. I went from 60 running processes to 46. System memory 600K approx. to 400K approx. Quite an improvement! There is other stuff I removed to, but I wll update all when I'm completed playing with everything. I'm downloading AVG Free now, and might also run Avast! Windows defender is next. I will eventually get NOD 32 in a week or so.

:update March 11, 07':
So far I have removed: Instant Fun, Asus chkmail, Asus Liveupdate, Norton (crap). Used ccleaner to get rid of Norton Registry residuals
I have disabled: sm56hlpr.exe ; dmedia.exe ; pdvdserv.exe ; nerocheck.exe ; zcfgsvc.exe ; ifrmewrk.exe ; msmsgs.exe ; reader1~.ex; qttask.exe ; ituneshelper.exe ; osa9.exe....... and perhaps a few I forgot.

The C&C3 Crashes have been due to running out of RAM memory!!!! My system performance info during the game says 1.02 Gb RAM usage. I corrected this by running all settings high, shadows off, and AA off. I need more RAM. I advise if you buy a V1 get it with an extra stick of RAM and put it in yourself unless dealer does it for free.

I really love my V1. It's a super nice machine that seems to do everything very well. My only gripes are the lousy speakers (using external at my desk), the right side heat vent (gets toasty hot when gaming), and that it doesn't come with 2Gb of RAM. I wish the vent was on the left side! The back would be bad too as I have the V1 against the wall at my desk.